About
"We like to watch attractive people. I don’t ever apologize for that. People say to me, 'there's a CW type - attractive.' I always say, 'attractive and talented.' Because we don’t settle."
In her two-hour-and-fifteen-minute interview, Lori Openden discusses how she got her start in the industry working for a television agent at William Morris. She shares how she got hired as a secretary on Barney Miller and started her career in casting with the show's casting director, Beth Uffner. She describes casting the Barney Miller spin-off Fish, becoming a casting director at MTM, and recalls her work casting The Betty White Show, Rhoda, The White Shadow, and Hill Street Blues. She tells of becoming an independent casting director and casting TV movies and Cheers (starting in season 3) and becoming a casting executive at NBC, where she was involved in casting Seinfeld, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Mad About You, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, L.A. Law, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, ER, Freaks and Geeks, and The West Wing. Openden details becoming a casting consultant and then executive at UPN, where she oversaw casting on several shows, including Everybody Hates Chris and Veronica Mars. She then recounts becoming head of casting at the CW, where she oversaw the casting on Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, The Flash, Batwoman, Black Lightning, Riverdale, Jane the Virgin, Dynasty, and Charmed, among others. She describes the CW's programming strategy, how she learned the craft of casting, offers advice to aspiring actors and casting directors, and reflects on her experiences as head of casting at three different networks (NBC, UPN, and the CW). Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on December 3, 2019 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Lori Openden on learning about casting from Danny Arnold on Barney Miller
Lori Openden on Nicholas Colasanto passing away and casting Woody Harrelson on Cheers
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Friends
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Gossip Girl
Lori Openden on Gina Rodriguez winning the CW's first Golden Globe for Jane the Virgin
Lori Openden on advice for people who want to go into casting - learn the business side
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on her father's death and how that impacted her life; on her favorite TV shows growing up and her college years at Cal State Northridge
On working for a television agent at William Morris after college; on getting hired as a secretary on Barnery Miller and getting interested in casting; on casting Barnery Miller and its spin-off, Fish
On leaving Barnery Miller and casting the MTM shows The Betty White Show, Rhoda, The White Shadow, and Hill Street Blues
On becoming an independent casting director and casting TV movies; on casting Cheers - joining in season three; on her casting duties at NBC and her involvement in casting Saved by the Bell
On her involvement with casting Seinfeld, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Mad About You, Frasier, and Friends
Chapter 2
On her involvement in casting Will & Grace, L.A. Law, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
On her involvement in casting ER, Freaks and Geeks, and The West Wing
On becoming an independent casting director; on becoming a casting consultant and then executive at UPN; on UPN shows she cast, including Everybody Hates Chris and Veronica Mars
On the programming strategy at UPN and the merger of UPN and the WB to form the CW; on a typical day for her as head of casting at the CW; on casting the CW shows Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, The Flash, Batwoman, Black Lightning, Riverdale, Jane the Virgin, Dynasty, and Charmed
Chapter 3
On casting the CW shows All American, Nancy Drew, and In the Dark
On the success of CW shows on digital platforms and how the industry has changed since she started in broadcast TV; on how the abundance of digital platforms has impacted casting; on advice to aspiring actors; on her mentors
On advice for people who want to go into casting; on the casting field being predominately women; on her proudest career achievement; on how she would like to be remembered
Shows
8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter
Lori Openden on being the casting director on 8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter
All American
Lori Openden on casting the CW show All American
Arrow
Lori Openden on casting Stephen Amell on Arrow
Barney Miller
Lori Openden on getting hired as a secretary on Barnery Miller and getting interested in casting
Lori Openden on the casting process on Barnery Miller
Lori Openden on when she left Barnery Miller and began working for MTM - casting The Betty White Show and Rhoda
Batwoman
Lori Openden on casting Ruby Rose on Batwoman
Bette
Lori Openden on being the casting director on the sitcom Bette
Betty White Show, The (1977-78)
Lori Openden on when she left Barnery Miller and began working for MTM - casting The Betty White Show and Rhoda
Black Lightning
Lori Openden on casting Black Lightning
Charmed
Lori Openden on casting the CW reboot of Charmed
Cheers
Lori Openden on casting Cheers, starting in season three of the series
Dynasty
Lori Openden on casting the CW reboot of Dynasty
ER
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting ER
Everybody Hates Chris
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Everybody Hates Chris
First Monday
Lori Openden on being the casting director on the drama First Monday
Fish
Lori Openden on casting the Barnery Miller spin-off, FIsh
Flash, The (2014)
Lori Openden on casting Grant Gustin on The Flash
Frasier
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Frasier
Freaks and Geeks
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Freaks and Geeks
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Friends
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Friends
Gossip Girl
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Gossip Girl
Hill Street Blues
Lori Openden on casting Hill Street Blues and the impact the show had on TV dramas
Lori Openden on the challenges of casting Hill Street Blues and what the day-to-day process was like
In the Dark
Lori Openden on casting the CW show In the Dark
Jane the Virgin
Lori Openden on casting Jane the Virgin
L.A. Law
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting L.A. Law
Law & Order
Lori Openden on her (non) involvement in casting the pilot of Law & Order and adding talent to the show over the years
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mad About You
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Mad About You
Nancy Drew
Lori Openden on casting the CW show Nancy Drew
Rhoda
Lori Openden on when she left Barnery Miller and began working for MTM - casting The Betty White Show and Rhoda
Riverdale
Lori Openden on casting the young stars on Riverdale
Lori Openden on casting the parents on Riverdale
Saved by the Bell
Lori Openden on the success of Saved by the Bell
Seinfeld
Lori Openden on casting Seinfeld
Supergirl
Lori Openden on Supergirl moving from CBS to the CW
Vampire Diaries, The
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The Vampire Diaries
Veronica Mars
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Kristen Bell on Veronica Mars
West Wing, The
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The West Wing
White Shadow, The
Lori Openden on casting The White Shadow
Will & Grace
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting the main cast and guest stars on Will & Grace
Topics
Advice
Lori Openden on her advice for aspiring actors
Lori Openden on advice for people who want to go into casting - learn the business side
First Big Break
Lori Openden on getting hired as a secretary on Barnery Miller and getting interested in casting
Historic Events and Social Change
Lori Openden on the impact of Will & Grace on American culture
Lori Openden on how diversity in casting has changed since she started in the industry
Lori Openden on the casting field being predominately women
LGBTQIA+
Lori Openden on the impact of Will & Grace on American culture
Lori Openden on how diversity in casting has changed since she started in the industry
Pivotal Career Moments
Lori Openden on getting hired as a secretary on Barnery Miller and getting interested in casting
Representation on Television
Lori Openden on the impact of Will & Grace on American culture
Lori Openden on how diversity in casting has changed since she started in the industry
Lori Openden on the casting field being predominately women
Technological Innovation
Lori Openden on the technological innovations over the years that now allow her to approve all guest stars on CW shows
Lori Openden on how the abundance of digital platforms has impacted casting
Television Industry
Lori Openden on the success of CW shows on digital platforms and how the industry has changed since she started in broadcast TV
Lori Openden on her advice for aspiring actors
Lori Openden on her mentors
Lori Openden on advice for people who want to go into casting - learn the business side
Lori Openden on paying attention to demographics at the CW
Women
Lori Openden on the casting field being predominately women
Professions
Casting Director
Lori Openden on how she learned to become critical of performances from her early experiences of casting Barney Miller, and on how she would find talent
Lori Openden on what she likes about casting
Lori Openden on changes in the casting industry over the years from the time she worked on Hill Street Blues to current day
Lori Openden on the audition process and when the network typically weighs in
Lori Openden on what she looked at when hiring casting executives and her team at NBC
Lori Openden on differences between being a casting director and a network casting executive
Lori Openden on chemistry and lack of chemistry between actors and how it can help or hurt a show
Lori Openden on the process of auditioning kids
Lori Openden on the hardest type of role to cast - leading men
Lori Openden on the differences between a character actor versus leading man
Executives
Lori Openden on differences between being a casting director and a network casting executive
Lori Openden on how involved NBC executives were with casting decisions when she was at the network, and on the then-current involvement of networks in casting
Lori Openden on not visiting sets much as a casting executive at NBC
Lori Openden on becoming a casting consultant and then executive at UPN
Lori Openden on her casting strategy at the CW
Lori Openden on a typical day for her as head of casting for the CW
Talent Professionals
Lori Openden on how she learned to become critical of performances from her early experiences of casting Barney Miller, and on how she would find talent
Lori Openden on what she likes about casting
Lori Openden on changes in the casting industry over the years from the time she worked on Hill Street Blues to current day
Lori Openden on the audition process and when the network typically weighs in
Lori Openden on what she looked at when hiring casting executives and her team at NBC
Lori Openden on differences between being a casting director and a network casting executive
Lori Openden on chemistry and lack of chemistry between actors and how it can help or hurt a show
Lori Openden on the process of auditioning kids
Lori Openden on the hardest type of role to cast - leading men
Lori Openden on the differences between a character actor versus leading man
Television Executive
Lori Openden on differences between being a casting director and a network casting executive
Lori Openden on how involved NBC executives were with casting decisions when she was at the network, and on the then-current involvement of networks in casting
Lori Openden on not visiting sets much as a casting executive at NBC
Lori Openden on becoming a casting consultant and then executive at UPN
Lori Openden on her casting strategy at the CW
Lori Openden on a typical day for her as head of casting for the CW
Genres
Comedy Series
Lori Openden on getting hired as a secretary on Barnery Miller and getting hired in casting
Lori Openden on casting the Barnery Miller spin-off, FIsh
Lori Openden on casting Cheers, starting in season three of the series
Lori Openden on the success of Saved by the Bell
Lori Openden on casting Seinfeld
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Mad About You
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Frasier
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Friends
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting the main cast and guest stars on Will & Grace
Lori Openden on being the casting director on the sitcom Bette
Lori Openden on being the casting director on 8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Everybody Hates Chris
Drama Series
Lori Openden on casting The White Shadow
Lori Openden on casting Hill Street Blues
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Freaks and Geeks
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The West Wing
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Kristen Bell on Veronica Mars
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Gossip Girl
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The Vampire Diaries
Lori Openden on casting Stephen Amell on Arrow
Lori Openden on casting Grant Gustin on The Flash
Lori Openden on casting Ruby Rose on Batwoman
Lori Openden on Supergirl moving from CBS to the CW
Lori Openden on casting Black Lightning
Lori Openden on casting Riverdale
Lori Openden on casting Jane the Virgin
Lori Openden on casting the CW reboot of Dynasty
Lori Openden on casting the CW reboot of Charmed
Lori Openden on casting the CW show All American
Lori Openden on casting the CW show Nancy Drew
Lori Openden on casting the CW show In the Dark
Legal Dramas
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting L.A. Law
Lori Openden on her (non) involvement in casting the pilot of Law & Order and adding talent to the show over the years
Lori Openden on being the casting director on the drama First Monday
Medical Dramas
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting ER
People
Jason Alexander
Lori Openden on casting Seinfeld
Kirstie Alley
Lori Openden on Shelley Long's departure from Cheers and Kirstie Alley joining the show
Stephen Amell
Lori Openden on casting Stephen Amell on Arrow
Jennifer Aniston
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Jennifer Aniston on Friends
Lori Openden on Jennifer Aniston playing "Rachel" instead of "Monica" on Friends
Lori Openden on why she believed Jennifer Aniston was meant to be a star
Danny Arnold
Lori Openden on learning about casting from Danny Arnold on Barney Miller
Lori Openden on Danny Arnold's input on casting Barney Miller
Justin Baldoni
Lori Openden on casting Justin Baldoni on Jane the Virgin
Kristen Bell
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Kristen Bell on Veronica Mars
Steven Bochco
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting L.A. Law with Steven Bochco
James Burrows
Lori Openden on James Burrows taking the cast of Friends to Las Vegas before the show aired
Thomas Carter
Lori Openden on casting The White Shadow, and on many of the actors learning to direct on the show, including Timothy Van Patten, Thomas Carter, and Kevin Hooks
George Clooney
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting George Clooney in his breakout role on ER
Enrico Colantoni
Lori Openden on Kristen Bell and Enrico Colantoni on Veronica Mars
Nicholas Colasanto
Lori Openden on Nicholas Colasanto passing away and casting Woody Harrelson on Cheers
Courteney Cox
Lori Openden on Courteney Cox joining the cast of Friends
Taye Diggs
Lori Openden on casting Taye Diggs on the CW show All American
Anthony Edwards
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Anthony Edwards on ER
Daniel Ezra
Lori Openden on casting Daniel Ezra on the CW show All American
James Garner
Lori Openden on John Ritter's death and bringing James Garner on to 8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter
Kelsey Grammer
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Frasier
Grant Gustin
Lori Openden on casting Grant Gustin on The Flash
Charles Haid
Lori Openden on casting Charles Haid on Hill Street Blues
Mariska Hargitay
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order
Woody Harrelson
Lori Openden on Nicholas Colasanto passing away and casting Woody Harrelson on Cheers
Sean Hayes
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Sean Hayes on Will & Grace
Kevin Hooks
Lori Openden on casting The White Shadow, and on many of the actors learning to direct on the show, including Timothy Van Patten, Thomas Carter, and Kevin Hooks
Peter Horton
Lori Openden on casting Peter Horton as a guest star The White Shadow
Quincy Jones
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Lisa Kudrow
Lori Openden on Lisa Kudrow being in the original cast of Frasier
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Lisa Kudrow on Friends
Jane Leeves
Lori Openden on Jane Leeves getting cast on Frasier
Hal Linden
Lori Openden on Hal Linden's performance on Barney Miller
Warren Littlefield
Lori Openden on working with Warren Littlefield and Brandon Tartikoff at NBC
Shelley Long
Lori Openden on Shelley Long's departure from Cheers and Kirstie Alley joining the show
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Lori Openden on casting Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld
Rick Ludwin
Lori Openden on Rick Ludwin's enthusiasm for Seinfeld
Julianna Margulies
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Julianna Marguiles on ER
Eric McCormack
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Erick McCormack on Will & Grace
Christopher Meloni
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Christopher Meloni on Law & Order
Debra Messing
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Debra Messing on Will & Grace
Bette Midler
Lori Openden on being the casting director on the sitcom Bette
Shelley Morrison
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Shelley Morrison on Will & Grace
Megan Mullally
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Megan Mullally on Will & Grace
Bruce Paltrow
Lori Openden on Bruce Paltrow giving several of the actors on The White Shadow the opportunity to direct
Lori Openden on working with Bruce Paltrow on casting The White Shadow
Matthew Perry
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Matthew Perry on Friends
Luke Perry
Lori Openden on casting the parents on Riverdale
David Hyde Pierce
Lori Openden on David Hyde Pierce getting cast on Frasier
Michael Richards
Lori Openden on casting Michael Richards on Seinfeld
John Ritter
Lori Openden on being the casting director on 8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter, and on John Ritter's sudden death
Gina Rodriguez
Lori Openden on casting Gina Rodriguez on Jane the Virgin
Lori Openden on Gina Rodriguez winning the CW's first Golden Globe for Jane the Virgin
Ruby Rose
Lori Openden on casting Ruby Rose on Batwoman
Eriq La Salle
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Eriq La Salle on ER
David Schwimmer
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting David Schwimmer on Friends
Jerry Seinfeld
Lori Openden on casting Seinfeld
Martin Sheen
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Martin Sheen on The West Wing
Will Smith
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Jimmy Smits
Lori Openden on her involvement in casting Jimmy Smits on L.A. Law
Aaron Sorkin
Lori Openden on working with Aaron Sorkin on The West Wing
Brandon Tartikoff
Lori Openden on working with Warren Littlefield and Brandon Tartikoff at NBC
Lori Openden on casting Michael Richards on Seinfeld
Grant Tinker
Lori Openden on casting Bruce Weitz on Hill Street Blues
Beth Uffner
Lori Openden on working with and learning from casting director Beth Uffner on Barney Miller
Timothy Van Patten
Lori Openden on casting The White Shadow, and on many of the actors learning to direct on the show, including Timothy Van Patten, Thomas Carter, and Kevin Hooks
Bruce Weitz
Lori Openden on casting Bruce Weitz on Hill Street Blues
Cress Williams
Lori Openden on casting Black Lightning